
This year’s Christian Horner situation illustrates the complexity of leadership scandals. Boards must balance stability, scrutiny, and resilience in times of executive crisis.

Rachel Reeves will announce a new Pension Adequacy Commission on 15 July. The review will assess whether UK workplace-saving rules provide adequate retirement income and is set to report back in 2026, amid growing scrutiny of pension outcomes for both employees and the self-employed.

Rachel Reeves cried during PMQs. That wasn’t a weakness. The Chancellor’s tearful moment in Parliament opens a deeper conversation about how vulnerability is reshaping the expectations — and impact — of modern leadership.

Tariff fears are delaying Bank of England action. Governor Andrew Bailey warned that global trade uncertainty is paralysing investment, making it harder to cut interest rates without deepening the slowdown. The Bank now faces a slower, cautious path to easing.

UK directors are facing a new phase of economic uncertainty. Confidence remains fragile amid tax increases, labour cost hikes, and regulatory change — with small firms and long-term sectors feeling the strain.

AstraZeneca chief hints at US move, intensifying pressure on UK markets. The FTSE 100’s largest company may relocate its primary stock listing to New York, as its CEO signals strategic realignment.

Directors’ confidence has fallen sharply as tax rises bite. The latest Institute of Directors index shows sentiment dropping close to pandemic-era lows, as fresh payroll taxes and looming new regulations unsettle business leaders across the UK in the run-up to autumn.

Big Four firms cut graduate roles due to AI automation. Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC have reduced graduate recruitment by up to a third, driven by AI adoption and cost-cutting measures, impacting the traditional entry-level job market.

UK executives face record stress levels. New Icertis research shows tariffs, regulatory shifts, and the scramble to keep pace with AI are placing UK C-suites under mounting pressure — with nearly 90% expecting tariffs to dent the bottom line, and four in five struggling to assess AI investment impact.

Federal Reserve pauses again amid economic pressure. The US central bank held its benchmark rate steady for a fourth time, as policymakers warned of inflationary pressure from rising tariffs and signalled a slower path to future rate cuts.